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 At the heart of the Serengeti ecosystem lies an ancient phenomenon that is the largest movement of wildlife on earth. In pursuit of food and water, over a million wildebeest and half a million zebra and antelope migrate north from the Serengeti to the adjoining Masai Mara reserve in Kenya every year.
The animal is superbly fit for its migratory lifestyle, even so the wildebeest looks a bit like a clown and, according to an African legend, has been put together by God using left over spare parts.
 Vast herds of wildebeest spend the rainy season in the volcanic open plains below the Ngorongoro Crater and in the Southern Serengeti where the grass growth is most productive with high nutrient contents.
This area is the starting point for one of the great wonders of the world: the Serengeti annual migration.
As the sea of grass provides little cover and the young are easy pickings, wildebeest have evolved synchronized birthing: about 90% of calves are born within a three-week period. Predators cannot make a dent in the newborn with such a sudden surge of food. Wildebeest young can run minutes after they are born. Within three days, calves are strong enough to keep up with the herd.
 As the grass is depleted in the Southern Serengeti the herds move to the plains and woodland of the Serengeti's Western Corridor.
For the migrants there is a high mortality rate due to injury and perhaps fatigue, so large numbers of griffon vultures follow the herds on their journey. Northwest from the short grass plains is the Grumeti River. This watercourse is their first real obstacle and gigantic Nile crocodiles (growing up to 6 meters in length and with unusually thickset jaws) are waiting for the hesitant wildebeest to stumble at the crossing.
Their lives are inextricably linked with the great migration. Moving with surprising stealth and speed, they prey upon the thirsty herds as they drink from the river.
Following the rainfalls the migration moves north before crossing the Kenyan border into the Masai Mara, little stops the stampeding hundreds. Here again, they must cross a river, this time the Mara with its flotillas of hungry crocodiles.
All is far from peaceful, for it is the rutting season and each male tries to establish a stamping ground. After moving westwards, the migration divides by some uncanny instinct, one group turning northeast and the other due north.
The mass of grunting wildebeests (gnus) remain on the productive Mara grasslands until October or November at a time when the rest of the ecosystem is simply too dry to support them. And then, as the storm clouds gather in the south, the vast herds return to their breeding grounds, which, by the time they arrive, are once again green and lush.
 In November, the army of animals returns southward to the replenished grasslands of the southern Serengeti, thereby completing the migratory cycle.
The migration is rarely ever the same in terms of precise timing and direction, as local conditions influence grass growth. So it is, that the wildebeest may move off the open plains earlier in some years, and remain in the northern woodlands for longer, in others.
All visitors need a valid passport to enter Tanzania. All visa requirements should be checked with your travel agent, or the Tanzanian representative in your country. If you are traveling with your own vehicle into Tanzania, you will require a carnet de passage, insurance cover and an international driver's license. It is also necessary to purchase a foreign vehicle road permit at the border and pay a road toll tax. It is advisable to check on all your documentary requirements well before the trip.
 It is not necessary to make reservations in advance to enter the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, and entry permits may be obtained at the Lodware Gate, the Naabi Hill Gate in the southern Serengeti, and the conservation area headquarters at Ngorongoro. Non-Tanzanian residents are required to pay any fees in US dollars. If you intend going into the Ngorongoro Crater, you are obliged to take an official guide with you at an additional fee. Guides are based at the conservation area headquarters. All entrance fees are valid for a period of 24 hours only. If you leave only an hour or two after the expiry of the 24-hour period, you will be charged the full amount once more. The gates into the Ngorongoro Conservation Area open at 6:00 a.m. and close at 7:00 p.m., but movement is allowed after dark between the campsites and the lodges. Take your rubbish away with you, or leave it at one of the lodges.
 Remember that potentially dangerous animals roam throughout the area, so it is advisable to be cautious. If you photograph Masai people, you must first ask permission, and you will be expected to pay. Most visitors to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area include a visit to the adjacent Serengeti National Park in their itinerary.
This is a vast conserved area, covering almost 15,000 square kilometers (9,375 square miles), and together with Ngorongoro, Masai Mara and adjoining game reserves, forms a block of land that is critical to the well-being of the great herds of game and the ever-present predators. The western plains of Ngorongoro are a natural extension of the extensive Serengeti Plain, and it is within this system that the wildebeest, plains zebra, topi, hartebeest and gazelles undertake their seasonal movements.
 There are two principal entry points into the Serengeti National Park, the most heavily used at Naabi Hill Gate between Ngorongoro and the park, and the other into the western corridor at Ndabaka Gate close to the eastern shore of Lake Victoria. On most maps the Bologonja Gate, at the border between Serengeti and Masai Mara, is marked but entry here is not recommended. People have been turned back at the border, as it is no longer an official crossing point. If you are driving yourself, follow the established roads and tracks. Only if you have secured permission and are well equipped (preferably with two vehicles) should you head for such locales as the Gol mountains, Nasera Rock and the western Salei Plains. Most excursions from the main roads should be restricted to the dry season. The main, all-weather roads are in reasonable condition, but corrugated in parts and flash floods can wash away the roads.
If you intend to explore, take sufficient fuel, water, food and spares, as a breakdown away from the principal routes could leave you stranded for several days.
Permission to camp away from the designated sites must be obtained from the conservation area headquarters.
- Zimbabwe
- Casa Msika (Mozambique)
- Cahorra Bassa
- Lilongwe (Malawi)
- Chitimba Beach at Mokondowe (Lake Malawi)
- Tanzania
- Dar-Es-Salaam (Zanzibar)
- Stonetown (Zanzibar)
- Nungwi Village Resort (Zanzibar)
- Arusha (Tanzania)
- Ngorongoro Crater
- Serengeti
- Lake Manyara
- Shiwa Ngandu
- Kapisho Hot Springs
- Lusaka
- Livingstone (Zambia)
- Victoria Falls (Zambia)
- Chobe National Park (Botswana)
- 23 June 2006 to 25 July 2006
- 18 August 2007 to 20 September 2007
Day 0
23 June 2007 |
Meet and Greet
Everybody comes together at the Impala Lily in Mussina on the afternoon of 23 June 2007. The venue will entertain us on a dinner in the Baobab restaurant and André van Vuuren, Director of Explore Africa, and fully qualified and experienced safari guide will do the introductions and briefing for the 5th East Africa Adventure (Dinner and accommodation included in Package ). |
Day 1
24 June 2007
(670 km) |
Travel through Zimbabwe
We leave Mussina very early and drive via Beit Bridge and Masvingo to Mutare. Cross the border into Mozambique to overnight at Casa Msika about 10 km on the other side of Manica.
Those who do not want to camp can stay over in the rooms at the resort at $20.00 per room (email: cmsika@zol.co.zw) |
Day 2
25 June 2007
(500 km) |
Cahorra Bassa
Leave early morning for Cahorra Bassa dam and spend the night at Ugezi Tiger Lodge.
Accommodation will be in the form of camping (dinner & breakfast incl. in package). |
Day 3
26 June 2007
(560 km) |
Lilongwe
Again we leave very early in the morning for a long and hard drive through Tete and the Dedza border post to Lilongwe in Malawi.
Camping at the Golf Club. Dinner at the club´s restaurant for everybody´s own account. |
Day 4
27 June 2007
(615 km) |
Lake Malawi
Drive along Lake Malawi to Chitimba Beach at Mokondowe (in the North) where we will camp on the white beach of Lake Malawi for the next two nights. |
Day 5
28 June 2007 |
Chitimba Beach
Day at rest on Lake Malawi.
This is one of the highlights of our safari and we spend the day swimming in the lake, chilling on the beach and having cold Kuche Kuche beers with Roy in his pub. The adventurous can take the winding 4X4 track to Livingstonia Mission and experience the breathtaking views of the lake. |
Day 6
29 June 2007
(592 km) |
Into Tanzania
Leave Lake Malawi, cross the border at Kakamura into Tanzania and camp at the Old Farm House about 50 km before Iringa (dinner & breakfast incl. in Package). |
Day 7
30 June 2007
(503 km) |
Dar-Es-Salaam
Drive via Iringa and Morogoro to Dar-Es-Salaam. We stay over in The Coral Beach/Royal Palm Hotel. Prepare for the trip to Zanzibar. Dinner for own account (breakfast included in Package). |
Day 8
1 July 2007 |
Stonetown – Zanzibar
Leave our vehicles in the safekeeping of the Royal Palm Hotel and take the early morning flight to Zanzibar. On arrival in Stonetown we have lunch at Mercury´s (everybody´s own account) check into Chavda Hotel and go on a Slave Tour. We will spend the night at Chavda (Bed & breakfast incl. in package). |
Days 9 through 11
2-4 July 2007 |
Nungwi Village Resort-Zanzibar
Visit one of the many Spice Farms on our way to Nungwi Village in the north where we will spend the next three nights in the luxury of the Nungwi Village Beach Resort. Overlooking the crystalline waters of the Indian Ocean, Nungwi Village Resort is nestled on the largest of Nungwi´s beaches − an unspoiled expense of soft white sand in which one can almost get lost and to which one always want to return. We will spend the days snorkeling and scuba diving or just relaxing and chilling on the beach (Accommodation and breakfast incl. in the package). |
Day 12
5 July 2007 |
Back to Dar-Es-Salaam
Back to the main land with the last flight of the day to spend the night at the Coral Beach/Royal Palm Hotel in Dar-Es-Salaam (Accommodation and breakfast incl. in the package). |
Days 13 & 14
6-7 July 2007
(665 km) |
Arusha
Drive via Moshi at the foot of Mt. Kilimanjaro to Arusha. Arusha is the safari mecca of the Northern Circuit of Tanzania. We will camp the next two nights at the Colobus Mountain Lodge, just outside town. |
Day 15
7 July 2007 |
Smoke break!
Regroup, day of rest, do some washing and shopping at Shoprite Checkers, fuel and prepare our vehicles for the Serengeti. |
Day 16
8 July 2007
(172 km) |
To Ngorongoro Crater
Drive to Ngorongoro Crater on the scenic route via Lake Manyara − Stay over in Ngorongoro Wildlife Lodge on the rim of the crater. (Dinner, bed and breakfast incl.in package). |
Day 17
9 July 2007
(100 km) |
Ngorongoro Crater
Spend the day game viewing down in the crater and the night in the luxury of Ngorongoro Wildlife Lodge (Dinner, bed and breakfast incl.in package). |
Day 18
10 July 2007
(200 km) |
Enter Serengeti
Drive on a terrible road to the Serengeti National Park. When you think back of the road conditions in East Africa, you will always remember this section. Camp at Seronera. |
Days 19 & 20
11-12 July 2007
(200 km) |
Follow the migration
Spend the days following the migration. It can either be along the Grumeti River in the Western Corridor or at the Mara River in the north.
Return to our camp at Seronera. |
Day 21
13 July 2007
(180 km) |
Lake Manyara National Park
On our way back to Arusha, we pass Ngorongoro Crater again and then turn off to lake Manyara where we will camp for two nights. |
Day 22
14 July 2007 |
Drive to Arusha for a rest day. shopping at Checkers, emergency repairs to vehicles and washing. We camp at the Colobus Mountain Lodge. |
Day 23
15 July 2007
(706 km) |
The long route back
Drive south via Morogoro to Mikumi National Park. Camp just outside the Park. |
Day 24
16 July 2007
(700 km) |
Utengule Hotel
Leave early morning via Iringa for Mbeya. Stay over at the Utengule Hotel on a coffee estate 20 Km south
of Mbeya on the edge of the Rift Valley (Dinner, bed and breakfast incl. in the package). |
Days 25 & 26
17-18 July 2007
(386 km) |
Shiwa Ngandu
Cross the border into Zambia and continue south via Isoka to Shiwa Ngandu. Visit Gore Brown´s old house before pitching camp and relaxing at the romantic Kapisho Hot Springs (Camping incl. in the package). |
Day 27
19 July 2007
(670 km) |
Lusaka
Drive south towards Lusaka and camp at Eureka Farm, 10 km south of Lusaka. (Camping, dinner − braai- and breakfast incl. in the package). |
Day 28
20 July 2007
(550 km) |
Livingstone
Drive to Livingstone and stay over at the Zambezi Waterfront. (Camping and a sunset cruise incl. in package). |
Day 29
21 July 2007
(100 km) |
Victoria Falls
Visit the Victoria Falls from the Zambian side. The Victoria Falls is approximately 1690m wide and varies in height from 62m (Devil´s Cataract) to 109m (Eastern Cataract). In comparison the Niagra Falls are 968m wide and on average 54m high.
Cross the Zambezi by ferry at Kazangula and travel to Kasane where we will chill at Chobe Safari Lodge for the next two nights before we take the road back to South Africa.
Camping as well as chalets will be available. |
Day 30
22 July 2007 |
Chobe National Park
We are going to spend the day in the Chobe. The Chobe is proud and very famous for it´s abundance of elephants − the highest concentration to be found anywhere in Africa. Chobe is also famous for it´s huge herds of buffalo, for it´s rich bird life and, not least for it´s boat cruises and exquisite sunsets − an Africa experience not to be missed. We spend the night again at Chobe Safari Lodge (Camping, and sunset cruise incl. in the package). |
Day 31
23 July 2007
(500 km) |
On the way home - Nata Lodge
Drive from Kasane to Nata Lodge where we will spend our last night and dine together. This is where we say goodbye after traveling Africa together for 30 days.
Camping as well as chalets are available. |
Day 32
24 July 2007
(900 km) |
Homeward Bound
From Nata Lodge back to South-Africa. (900 km to Gauteng) |
R 45,000.00 – R 50,000.00 per vehicle with 2 Adults.
A non-refundable deposit of R 10,000.00 per vehicle is required in order to confirm a booking. The balance is due a minimum of 14 days prior to departure.
Enquiries & ookings
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